Role at a glance

The Mechanical Engineer is the in-house mechanical subject matter expert for a growing data centre owner and operator, advising on design, construction and operations from the head office in Sydney.

About the organisation

Our client is a data centre owner and operator that is changing the way facilities are built and operated. It combines innovative, environmentally efficient technologies and construction methods to deploy secure cloud and hyperscale environments rapidly.

Founded within the last decade, the company serves cloud service providers, telecommunications companies and large government and enterprise users with highly secure and reliable facilities. Its mission is to provide mission-critical digital infrastructure with predictability, flexibility and security.

It is a portfolio company of a leading global infrastructure asset manager with more than US$1 trillion in assets under management across utilities, transport, energy and data infrastructure.

The company operates data centres in Australia and New Zealand, with four further facilities under development or construction across both countries. Its ambition is to become the preferred partner in the Asia Pacific region for purpose-built, highly secure and resilient data centre solutions.

The role

You will advise the business on data centre mechanical engineering from design right through to operations, supporting the Design and Engineering team as the mechanical subject matter expert.

The role oversees mechanical design for new development projects and ongoing maintenance, and leads the business in innovative engineering solutions that put energy efficiency and physical security first.

Key responsibilities

Design leadership

Oversee mechanical engineering design for development projects and maintenance, and improve development and operational capabilities.
Manage mechanical engineering functions so technical, operational and long-term goals are met and customers receive a high-quality service.
Drive the vision, design, strategy and implementation for all things mechanical.
Deliver solutions that follow well-architected frameworks, with energy efficiency and physical security front and centre.
Review, guide and recommend cost-effective solutions for development projects and for ongoing maintenance and upgrades, ensuring quality standards are met.

Specification and vendor management

Work with regional vendors and manufacturers to specify mechanical equipment, including air handling units, computer room air handling units, chillers, cooling towers, controls and sequences of operation, and fire detection and suppression systems. Review and approve equipment submittals.
Generate, maintain and distribute specification documents for projects across APAC.
Create, maintain and distribute project-specific scope of work documents, coordinating their review and finalisation.
Assist with vendor selection, bid review and RFI coordination.

Collaboration and customers

Partner with the Project Development and Operations teams, providing review, guidance and advice.
Work with customers to present and champion the company's data centre design.
Advise on due diligence and compliance reports for new sites and existing buildings.
Assist with redesigning and upgrading facilities and systems, including migrations.

Commissioning and sustainability

Prepare commissioning plans, procedures and documentation, and coordinate with contractors and stakeholders during commissioning.
Strive for environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality across the portfolio.

Selection criteria

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in engineering or professional engineer registration.
Project management certification (such as PMI) or experience is desirable.

Experience

10+ years of cumulative data centre design experience; colocation experience is a plus.
Experience in data centre or other mission-critical facility design, such as pharmaceutical, hospital or semiconductor projects.
Demonstrated design management and project management experience in mission-critical facilities.
Experience working with regional vendors and manufacturers to specify and approve mechanical equipment, including AHUs, CRAHs, chillers, cooling towers, controls and fire detection and suppression systems.

Skills

Broad knowledge of data centre development, design, construction, commissioning and operation.
Understanding of BIM and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling.
Ability to work productively in a highly secure, critical environment.
Strong project management, organisation and problem-solving skills, with a drive for results and the ability to juggle multiple tasks.
Ability to operate with little to no supervision and still deliver the right results.
Proficiency in SQL, Microsoft Word, Excel and Project.
Excellent written and verbal communication, with the interpersonal skills to quickly earn the respect and support of management and colleagues.
Identifies and engages the necessary stakeholders to gain support or agreement, and builds strategic relationships to achieve outcomes.
Checks own and others' work against quality standards and recalibrates as needed.
Instils a sense of urgency in the team, overcomes obstacles and plans for contingencies.
Business partnering capability, with a commitment to shared success.

Mechanical SME